Events!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2013 was a great year and one that will go down in my own record books. It was busy and crazy, but it was a wonderful year. Besides a few bad habits that I picked up last year - chocolate, ice cream and the lack of exercise - it was a perfect year. I don't have specific goals for this year other than to get on an exercise routine and not eat ice cream every night and limit my chocolate intake. It's going to be tough, but I have found that I am not completely happy with the way I feel about myself. I know we women are hardly ever happy with ourselves, but I owe it to myself, my husband and my kids to be the best I can be.

So, I have already started - 20 minutes of running a day, it's been a little brutal, but I am feeling better. It has only been 3 days and my body feels like it has been hit by a truck, but since my last quilt I realized that I have to be physically fit to keep this up. My back has been hurting for some time and I know it is because of being hunched over my machine for hours at a time. I want to keep quilting (of course) - so I have to throw in exercise to make it easier on me. Along with running I will be adding push ups and squats to help with muscle tone and that should help my back.

The picture above is my studio in the works. Clint and I are planting permanent roots here in St. George and we are building our "forever" house right now. It should be finished later this week, fingers crossed. It will be the house the kids will grow up in and will come back to visit us in when they are moved out and have families of their own - that thought just makes me all sentimental and teary eyed. The best part of the house is the fact that I will have my own space, with space - if you know what I mean. I will be able to lay out quilts on the floor easily and the cubby space will get me organized. I will have locking doors - miracle in itself and I will have enough room to have my sewing machine, cutting table and my computer desk too. I will be sure to share pictures with you once I am all moved in.

The year 2014 brings in a new adventure for me - teaching. I admit I am scared out of my mind, but I am excited too. Sometimes I wake up in cold sweats remembering that I am traveling to teach. If you know me, I have always struggled with getting on a plane - it's just part of the anxiety that I have. So, the fact that I am going to Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Canada and Australia (yep, that's an announcement) to teach and flying in an airplane to get there will either help me get used to it all or just make me break out with stress zits.

In all reality, I am just so grateful for these opportunities. Never in a thousand years would I have guessed that I would be asked to teach around the world. It is truly humbling and mind boggling, but I am so happy to be able to do it. So, this year as part of bettering myself, I am going to learn to be grateful for each moment and each opportunity I am given. I am going to be the best wife I can be, the best mom I can be and the best teacher and longarm quilter I can be. I do not want to have regrets so I will embrace each day I am blessed to be on this earth and thank God for each moment in my life, good and bad.

Thank you to all of you who have been so supportive to me. I am so grateful for all of you. 2014 will be one for the record books as well and I can not wait to share my adventures with you.

Congrats! BTW, I have tons of family in St George plus my in laws have a condo down there that we use frequently. You are picking a great place :) We are just north of you in Tooele which is close to Salt Lake. What a wonderful time to be able to move… I have to admit I am a little jealous. Hopefully we will be doing the same thing soon :) Anyway, so exciting all the changes and opportunities ahead of you. Thank you for sharing!

So exciting to have your own sewing/creating space. And so much to look forward to in 2014! Teaching is something that you will get better and better at, the more you do it. Looking forward to your visit to Canada. Continued best wishes for the new year!

Regarding your back, talk to your doctor and maybe get working with a personal trainer or physical therapist, you are too young to have problems. So glad you are coming to phoenix, hope to see you. Next month already!

So excited for you! I can't wait to see you space. Please post pics for sure! Also I would be curious to hear about your excercise regimen. I am finally spending more time behind my machine and am finding I am definitely having back issues and the such! But my day job causes me to sit behind a desk all day crunching the numbers, so I can't wait to start long arm quilting for others so I can stop! Thanks again for being such a great inspriation!

Congratulations on the New Year plans and especially on that new sewing room! My sewing room is my sanctuary and, yes, it has a lock too. With young kids this will certainly help you to separate work from family life and keep things running smoothly. Oh, and by the way, you always look gorgeous!Cindy

Your coming here to Australia, Oh my you so need to bring your family out as well. So many beautiful places to see. Lets face it, if your travelling this far you may as well stay a while. Off to investigate your dates :o) hugs

This post has touched me. You have such a humble spirit and that is what will make you a great teacher. I'm so happy for your teaching opportunities and for your new studio space. It's going to be a great year. P.S. I got your book for Christmas (it was on my list). Right now it all seems out of reach for me, but I'm going to try. :)

I can't wait to run with you in Indio!!! This post-prego body of mine is ready to hang out with you and get in shape!! I think you are so super talented, you should be traveling around the world. You are So amazing! I can't wait to see your dream house in person...I'm so excited to see it!!! Miss you guys.

That is so cool, Judi! I wish you were teaching at Paducah or Chattanooga - closer to my neck of the woods! So for this year I'll learn from your book and hope you're closer next year! Have a wonderful time - you'll do great!!!

Congratulations on your soon-to-be studio space. It looks marvelous already. My husband and I stopped in St. George on one of our return trips from CA so that we could drop in to see the Innovas in Let's Quilt. Nice looking little town. I wish that I could take one of your classes but just in case I can't I'm excited to have your book in hand. (Although I really wish that the postman had done what the envelope said of not bending it! Fortunately the CD wasn't broken so I'll live with a bent book.)

How exciting that you're coming to the AMQF in Adelaide where I live. I have already told my other half that I'm definitely going this year as last time it was on I was broke! I've got some cash stashed away this time around. I'm not a long-armer though so not sure if your class will suit a domestic machine quilter, I guess I'll just have to wait and see!

Oh my goodness you're coming to Australia! And not only that, but to Adelaide, my closest city. Australia is like the size of the USA so you could still have been far away. Best wishes for 2014, and I love the cubby holes in your new studio, by the way.

I am so happy for you. You are an inspiration. I have been dreaming of opening my own sewing & quilting shop, but it's a scary thought. What if it doesn't work out? What if I lose money instead of making money? What if I have to go back to working for someone else? I will be moving as well at the end of the year. Hopefully the move will put more opportunities in front of me to achieve my dreams. Keep up the good work.

Happy New Year! I am so thrilled for you that everything is going so well. As a reader of your blog I have lived through ups and downs (the book!! so glad it's finally here!) and I am really happy 2013 was good. Here's to 2014 being even better!

You are so sweet. I've watched your Youtube videos for months and you are a wonderful teacher. You've been teaching more people than you think. You will do great. I'm excited for you to be able to travel and meet new people along the way, I know you will do great. I just got your new book last week and it's wonderful too. Happy New Year to you and yours, I hope you will have a happy, healthy and prosperous one.

Planning to try to make Adelaide in Australia. How about popping over to New Zealand while you are down here. We would love to have you come do some classes. Waiting for my copy of your book to arrive. Happy New Year.

Congrats on your forever home! May it be blessed with much love, peace, joy and abundance! Cannot wait to see your space when finished and ready to work in! Good luck in all you do with your quilting and teaching this coming year! May it be the best year yet!

Fantastic news. I'm so happy for where your quilting is taking you. And I would love, love, love to take a class from you. I'd love to hear more about your new space when you get the chance (I know how hectic moving is). When we built this house 1/2 years ago I never dreamed that I'd have a long arm machine but now I do and it is all crammed into my studio. I'm already making notes for the space I will build for my studio in our next house and I'd love to hear about your details.

You are stronger than you think. Congratulations on teaching. I know you are a true artist when it comes to your quilting. thanks for the quilt you quilted for me. I am still getting complements. The sky is limitless go a soar.

Judy, I have been reading your blog for years now. I am so happy for you. No one deserves it more than you. Your talent is simply amazing and I am always awe struck by your work. I look forward to each and every entry on your blog. I am in my sixties and am trying to learn to free motion quilt on my home machine. I can't believe what you have accomplished at such a young age. What I would give to have half your talent; and to think you do this and care for your family too. Wow. God has truly blessed you and all the quilting world for sharing your gift with us. Thank you. Just one question- is your book just for longarm quilters or will home machine quilters benefit also? Good luck with your teaching schedule. I know you will do great.

Hi Judy! Congratulations on your new studio and the recognition you are getting for your outstanding quilting. Five years ago I became certified in Yoga instruction at the age of 55. It is an excellent way to learn how to take care of your body and reverse damaging affects from poor posture and disease. Don't wait as long as I did to learn the incredible benefits of stretching and balance. God bless you as you continue to instruct and teach in an area you obviously excel at!

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Hi Judi, just getting caught up reading some of your blog posts. Congratulations on the new home and the book as well. I just ordered your book ... very excited as I anticipate ordering a longarm soon. That said, you mentioned back pain and I immediately thought of another A-1 owner/quilter Jamie Wallen. He has a great video which may (or may not) be of some help to you. http://youtu.be/L9HRQYfwrXsMay 2014 be over the top enjoyable!!~ Christina in Cleveland

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About Me

I am Judi the Green Fairy of Green Fairy Quilts. Strange name you may think, but it is a fun story of when I was young and my mom would comment before she left anywhere that it would be nice if the Green Fairy cleaned up while she was gone. I usually took the hint and cleaned up. So, when we started to think of a name for our business, naturally Green Fairy Quilts was it. I love to quilt and love to design, so together with my husband Clint we have turned my passion into a business. Clint now runs the business while I get to spend my time taking care of our four children and making time to longarm quilt and design quilt patterns. Thanks for stopping by!